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Please oh please do not hate me after I share this next recipe with you. You see, I saw a few “pretzel bite” recipes floating around the web and by the time you were able to say “hello mall pretzels!”, I had already tried 2 different versions. Tonight’s experiment made the 3rd version and quite possibly the best version.
I’m sorry folks, but they are addicting. No lies.
I imagine there is some sort of food rehab for those who enjoy food this much.
I tried, I failed, I found the secret…
For the first try, I used freshly made dough folks. Freshly made pizza dough. Results? They were good, they were realllly good but something was missing. What the heck was it? The second try yielded different results, I used the Simply Rustic French Bread from Pillsbury. Results? Eh. Probably not going to try that again. For the third try, I used Crusty French Loaf by Pillsbury. Results? SUCCESS. OH YES!
The winner:
Hey, did you know you can even make a bread bowl with that crusty french bread? Check it out! Going to try that next.
Now that I’ve discovered the secret to these delicious bites of salted, buttered dough… let me explain what you need and how to make them.
Easy Homemade Pretzel Bites
Note: By the second time you’ve made this, you could probably do it with your eyes closed..
…but please don’t.
You will need:
– Crusty French Loaf by Pillsbury *seen above (note: 1 can makes about 20 bites. Double up if you have no self control.)
– 1 stick of Unsalted Butter
– Kosher Salt (note: I tried sea salt, results were meh. Too salty!)
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375F. Take the dough out of the can and place it on a cutting board. Does not have to be floured. Do NOT roll out the dough, leave it as is! Cut the dough length wise (from left to right) to make 2 long strips, then cut each strip into small little pieces.. like this:
Don’t forget to roll those pieces into balls!
Step 2
Put some water in a pot and bring it to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, take the stick of butter out of the fridge to soften. Once the water is boiling, take the balls of dough and drop them in the water.. I’d say about 10 at a time. Roll them around in the water for about 45 seconds to a minute.
Step 3
Using a slatted spoon (or a spoon with holes), remove the balls of dough and place them on a layer of paper towels. (note: I sprayed the top paper towel with cooking spray so they wouldn’t stick)
Step 4
Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray, carefully move balls of dough from towels to cookie sheet. Place balls of dough about 1/2 inch apart. They won’t expand too much at this point. Bake at 375F for 25 minutes or until golden brown on bottom and the tops are not doughy.
Like this:
Step 5
Once baked, roll the bites in melted butter before transferring them to a plate/bowl. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste and try not to eat them before your husband and kids have a chance to enjoy.
Ahem.
Please make them! If you do, will you post the picture on our facebook page? Oh and don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I totally warned you.
* You might notice I tagged this post as Kid-Friendly. Let your kiddo roll out the balls of dough and they will be just as excited as you when these bites come out of the oven! Heck, they’ll be excited anyway… but it’s fun. Family time!
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48 COMMENTS
Bex
11 years agoKids?? Oh no. These will be all mine!!
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHOROh you have no idea…. please please just trust me.
Markie mantle
9 years agoMade them last night. Heaven. Posted the pic on my fb and was an instant hit. Can’t wait to make a huge batch for parties
Kendra York
6 years agoHave you made these for a large party? Can I make them the night before and just wait to butter them until the day of?
Kaydee
11 years agoThese look AMAZING and there isn’t much more I love then a fantastic soft pretzel! While we were in Disneyland I bought them everywhere I saw them. My next grocery store trip I’ll be getting the supplies to make these!!!
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHORYes! They are delish. let me know if you make them :)
Rebekah
11 years agoSo…….I made them. Let me tell you. SO GOOD! They were gone in about 3 seconds. We all gobbled them up!
Aleah via Facebook
11 years agoI forwarded that post to my husband a couple weeks ago & we made them this past weekend. Gone in less than an hour. A double batch… :)
via Facebook
11 years agoYeah! Go Aleah! We have made a few batches ourselves!! SO good! -Emily
via Facebook
11 years agoAll the ingredients to make them ate in my fridge!!! – Jessica
via Facebook
11 years agoare even!
Amanda Klenner-Labrow
11 years agoI am going to try these this weekend… they sound tasty
Modern Day Moms
11 years ago*sigh* They are so good..
Aaron AndAshley Jones
11 years agoI just told my husband that I HAVE to make some. Pretzels have been my main 2nd trimester craving.
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHORHave you made them yet? :)
Samantha Claire Souza
11 years agoNOM! Thanks for the reminder! This is going to be our Friday night movie snack.
Modern Day Moms
11 years agoYessss!
Jennifer Wall
11 years agoThanks!
Modern Day Moms
11 years agoVery welcome :) – Jessica
Ste
11 years agoYummm!! I have to try these now!!!
Melissa
11 years agoI made these tonight (found them through pinterest). SO FREAKING good. My second batch (I heeded the no-control warning) I buttered and then rolled in sugar and cinnamon. GOOD.
Gilly
11 years agoAnyone try reheating them? I haven’t made them yet but it is our appreciation week at my hospital and was thinking of making a couple of batches but don’t know how well they sit or reheat…any ideas?
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHORThey aren’t AS good reheated but they are still delish. Popping them in the oven for a few might toast them up a little bit.
Melissa
11 years agoThese look great but I’m wondering what everyoone uses for the chedder cheese dipping sauce. We haven’t found anything like the stuff in the mall.
Ashley
11 years agoMy husband loves the nacho cheese in a can in the mexican food aisle. I’ve not tasted it but he says it’s a close to the nacho cheese that you get from the mall/theater/concession stands.
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHOROh great idea! I must try that. Thank you for letting me know!
Elizabeth
6 years agoI’ve posted this one a couple times on different Facebook recipe sites. It’s always worked for me.
Also, add 1/4 cup of baking soda to that boiling water before you dunk the dough and you’ll love it so much more, I promise.
BEER CHEESE FONDUE
2-3oz lager of your choice
8oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire
1 stalk of green onion, finely chopped (I usually cut mine with scissors!)
Handful of real bacon bits (if you feel like making the bacon, probably 2 slices would suffice)
Bring water in double boiler (or a saucepan with a bowl inside) to a boil, and bring beer to a boil (small bubbles – you just need it hot) and stir in your garlic. Add shredded cheddar, stirring with a fork until melted. Reduce heat to low, add the rest of your ingredients and stir until you get the flavor/texture you want. If you want it thinner, add more beer. If you want more flavor, add more garlic and Worcestershire!
Elizabeth
6 years agoIf you still want it kid friendly, use chicken/beef stock instead of beer!
Momto1tot
11 years agoI am making them as we speak! so flippin easy i LOVE recipes like this i will post a picture on your facebook when finished they are in the oven :)
Momto1tot
11 years agook finishing product is DELICIOUS! deff need some cheese sauce walmart also carries these individual little cartons that come in a 6 pack of nacho cheese sauce that is really good and close to the mall cheese too! thanks for posting!
Jessica
11 years ago AUTHORYay! So glad! The cheese sauce sounds DELISH. I will have to look when I’m at the store again!
Erika Carlo Yacobucci
11 years agoI did see it and I pinned it ;) i have to try it.
Modern Day Moms
11 years agoErika Carlo Yacobucci – Do let us know when you do!!! :)
Erika Carlo Yacobucci
11 years agoyou got it :)
Natalia Hedlin
11 years agolook so delicious! will try them soon!
Mollie
10 years agoLook great! How well do these keep/ship? Would love to include these in gift baskets for the holidays!
Tracy
10 years agoSo yum! Made them a few weeks ago and my family of 5 devoured them in 10 minutes! Making them again now for playoff games as a surprise! Shhhhh! I might have to eat a few before I put them in front of the vultures:)
Sarah
10 years agoThese are unbelievable! Thank you so much for posting!
Katrina
10 years agoWhat if the Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf isn’t sold in our country? Because I haven’t seen any of it being sold in any of the grocery stores in my city :(
Modern Day Moms
10 years ago AUTHORYou could easily use pizza dough or bread dough. You will most likely have the exact same results, this was just a recipe to make it easier without having to make your own dough. If you have a local bakery that sells fresh dough, that would work too.
Kay
9 years agoI just stumbled upon this recipe and I tried them…. They are sooo yummy and sooo addicting. I ate the whole batch by myself, selfishly giving my husband one piece. :) Thanks for this amazing easy pretzel bites recipe!
Markie mantle
9 years agoAmazing and so easy. Do you recommend baking soda in the water?.
Julie
9 years agoI was wondering this my self
Julie
9 years agoI have done these but I add a bit of garlic powder to the butter and then, after I put the butter on them, I shake them around in some canned parmesan cheese. Really really good!
Mary
9 years agoI have made these quite a few times now (and my daughter has too!!) and they are amazing made according to the recipe. Tonight, I brought them to a whole new level. I melted the butter with some Tastefully Simple Italian Garlic Bread seasoning AND I made a cheese sauce to dip. So, so very good!! And so addicting!!
Kayla
7 years agoCan I use salted butter because there is no unsalted butter in the store
Kendra York
6 years agoCan you make these the day before and heat then in the oven the morning of?
Becky Land
6 years agoWould love to have been able to print this recipe without all of the posts, pictures, etc. I am trying this tonight.